Thailand eSIM
Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai — install before you fly.
- 5G on True and AIS
- Instant on arrival
- Refund if it doesn’t activate
Choose your plan
All prices AUD7 days
15 days
30 days
Good to know
Calls and texts
Thailand plans are data only. Use WhatsApp or FaceTime for calls.
Your phone
It needs to support eSIM and be unlocked. Check your phone
Refunds
If your eSIM doesn't activate, we'll replace it free or refund you in full.
Thailand eSIM plans at a glance
Cheapest
1 GB for 7 days, $4
Best value
20 GB for 30 days, $18, about $0.90 a gigabyte
Unlimited
From $9.50. Cheapest per day is 30 days at $1.63 a day
Network coverage in Thailand
Thailand has strong mobile coverage across every mainland tourist corridor. AIS is the country's largest network, covering more than 98% of the population on 4G and over 85% on active 5G.
Keep reading
Your Travelren Thailand eSIM roams on AIS with True Corp as a fallback. 5G is live across Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Pattaya, Hua Hin, and Krabi, with typical download speeds between 80 and 180 Mbps in urban areas. Coverage on the major islands — Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao, Koh Lanta — is reliable in tourist villages and along main roads. Smaller islands such as Koh Lipe, Koh Kood, and the Similan and Surin island groups have patchy or no coverage. Bullet trains don't exist in Thailand; long-distance buses and trains have intermittent signal in rural stretches between provinces.
- Networks
- True, AIS
- Speeds
- 5G
- Telstra roaming
- $10 a day
What works in Thailand
Works well
- Google Maps and Grab rideshare — both dominant in Thai cities
- WhatsApp, Line, and Messenger (Line is the default chat app)
- Google Translate camera mode for menus and signs
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- Booking long-distance travel via 12Go Asia and BookAway
- Ordering food and groceries via GrabFood, foodpanda, and LINE MAN
- Streaming on 5G in Bangkok, Phuket, and Chiang Mai
- Tethering a laptop or tablet for work from cafes or hotels
- Uploading photos and videos without hitting speed throttles
Watch out for
- Remote islands (Koh Lipe, the Similans, the Surins) and national parks have no reliable signal
- Coverage inside older Bangkok shophouses and concrete condos can be weak — WiFi recommended indoors
- A few government and banking apps require a local Thai phone number for OTP; none are tourist essentials
- The BTS Skytrain in Bangkok does not accept international contactless bank cards for fares — you need a Rabbit card for BTS (MRT does accept contactless)
Arriving in Thailand
Suvarnabhumi (BKK) and Don Mueang (DMK) in Bangkok, plus Phuket (HKT) and Chiang Mai (CNX), all have free airport WiFi — typically capped at two hours a day in 15 minute sessions at around 1 Mbps, enough for a hotel address lookup but not much more. AIS, True, and dtac run 24 hour tourist SIM kiosks right in the arrivals hall at every major airport; data-only tourist SIMs start around ฿299 (roughly AUD$13) for 8 days unlimited data, but require your passport to register under Thai law.
Keep reading
Cash is still widely used outside Bangkok, but contactless card payments work at 7-Eleven, Family Mart, Tops, Central, and most sit-down restaurants in tourist areas. From June 2026 the Bangkok MRT accepts tap-to-pay with any international Visa or Mastercard contactless card directly at the gate — no separate travel card needed. The BTS Skytrain still requires a Rabbit card.
Installing your Thailand eSIM
Install your Thailand eSIM at home on your own WiFi before you fly — it takes about two minutes. On iPhone: Settings → Mobile Data → Add eSIM, then scan the QR code from your email. On Android: Settings → Connections → SIM Manager → Add eSIM.
Keep reading
Leave your home SIM as the primary line for calls and SMS. Switch the Thailand eSIM on for data only when you land. Your home number stays active throughout the trip. If you forget to install before departure, free airport WiFi at Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang works for installation, though the two hour daily cap means it's better to arrive ready.
Common questions
Which carrier does Travelren use in Thailand?
Your eSIM connects to AIS — Thailand's largest mobile network — with True Corp as a fallback. AIS covers over 98% of the population on 4G and more than 85% on active 5G. Your phone selects the strongest signal automatically. No APN configuration or manual network switching is required.
Will my eSIM work on Koh Samui, Phuket, and other islands?
Yes on the major islands. Koh Samui, Phuket, Koh Phangan, Koh Lanta, and Krabi province all have solid AIS 4G LTE with 5G in tourist towns. Smaller islands like Koh Lipe, Koh Kood, the Similans, and the Surins have weak or no coverage. For day trips to the Similan or Surin islands, plan to be offline.
How do I pay for the BTS Skytrain and MRT in Bangkok?
From June 2026 the MRT (Blue, Purple, Yellow, Pink lines) accepts tap-to-pay with any international contactless Visa or Mastercard directly at the gate. The BTS Skytrain does not — you still need a Rabbit card, sold at any BTS station for ฿200 including a top-up. Grab and Bolt rideshare are a practical alternative and work with any international card.
Does Thailand support eSIM?
Yes. AIS, True Corp, and National Telecom all support eSIM. iPhones from the XS onwards, Google Pixel 3 and later, and most recent Samsung Galaxy models all work. Important exception: iPhones purchased in mainland China do not include eSIM hardware even if the model number looks identical. Use travelren.com/device-check to confirm your phone in 30 seconds. Check your phone
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Can I use my eSIM at Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports?
Yes. Both Bangkok airports have strong AIS and True coverage throughout arrivals, immigration, baggage claim, and the taxi and Airport Rail Link areas. Your eSIM activates the moment your phone connects to a Thai network — usually while taxiing to the gate. Most travellers are online before reaching immigration.
How much does roaming cost without a Travelren eSIM?
Telstra charges AUD$10 per day under its International Day Pass for Thailand (Zone 2) with a 2 GB daily cap. AT&T's International Day Pass is USD$12 per day. EE charges £5 per day. Spark's 14 day Roaming Pack is NZD$30. Travelren plans are typically cheaper on a per-day basis and don't reset at a fixed midnight cutover that can shorten your final day.
Is the free WiFi at Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang any good?
It works for basic messages and a hotel lookup but not much more. Free airport WiFi is capped at two hours per day in 15 minute sessions at around 1 Mbps. For anything beyond arrival logistics — rideshare booking, video calls, uploads — install your Travelren eSIM before you fly so you're online the moment you land.
Do I need to register my SIM with my passport in Thailand?
Physical tourist SIMs bought at airport kiosks require passport registration under Thai law — staff scan your passport and activate the SIM. An eSIM purchased from Travelren skips this step entirely. You install it before you leave home, activate it on arrival, and no passport registration is required.
Asia regional plan
Visiting more than just Thailand?
One Asia eSIM covers Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore, plus 15 other countries.
$59
Not flying yet?
Tell us when you go and we’ll email you a reminder to set up your Thailand eSIM three days before you fly. One email. That’s it.